Coupling adapter

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a coupling adapter for use with self-sealing valved coupling parts of the axially movable type for servicing and testing a fluid circuit. The adapter consists of a tubular body having a coupling end for connecting to the associated part and an axial passage wherein a threaded valve actuator is located having a free end adapted to releasably engage and displace the associated part&#39;s valve. A torque appling handle operatively associated with the value actuator facilitates manual control of the valve&#39;s axial position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Self-sealing valved couplings are widely employed in fluid circuits tointerconnect hose lines wherein the mating parts employ axial movablevalves of the sliding sleeve or poppet type which utilize the relativeaxial movement of the coupling parts during assembly or disassembly toopen or close the valves, respectively. The construction of thesecouplings generally include locking and release structure, such as ballrelease sleeve for quick connect or disconnect, and the valve in eachpart engages a member of the opposing part to open when connected whilea compression spring biasing each valve toward the closed positioncauses the valves to seal automatically when disconnected.

Self-sealing valved couplings of the aforedescribed type are commonlyemployed in systems for automotive air conditioners, heat pump units andthe like, where one part is attached to a hose line leading directlyfrom the unit and the other part is attached to an evacuation orrecharging line. Maintenance or serving of the units require that thecouplings be disconnected and connected under high pressure, anddisconnection of the parts is relatively easy. However, as the couplingand uncoupling of the parts controls the valve operation the parts areextremely difficult to connect under high pressure due to the internalpressure impose on the valve. Also, the situation may arise, such asduring servicing, where the technician may want to control the flow offluid in the coupling under partial flow conditions and as the valvesfully open during coupling and are not capable of being manuallycontrolled this is not possible.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a couplingservicing adapter to be used with self-sealing valved coupling parts ofthe axially movable type wherein the adapter employs a manually operablevalve actuator for axially displacing the associated coupling part'svalve to the open and closed condition with relatively little effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling servicingadapter to be used with self-sealing valved coupling parts of theaxially movable type wherein the adapter may be used to selectivelydisplace the value between the open and closed conditions forcontrolling fluid flow in the coupling part.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling servicingadapter to be used with self-sealing valved coupling parts of theaxially movable type wherein the adapter employs a threaded valveactuator for axially displacing the valve by rotation of a torqueapplying handle whereby the threaded action multiplies the effectiveforces used to displace the valve when under high pressure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a coupling servicingadapter for use with self-sealing valved coupling parts wherein theadapter is readily coupled and uncoupled to the part and is connectableto an evaluation or recharging line.

In the practice of the invention the coupling servicing adapter includesa tubular body having an outer end and a coupling end for coupling witha self-sealing valved coupling part of the type which employs an axiallydisplaceable valve. An axial passage extends through the body from thecoupling end and intersects an axially aligned threaded bore formed inthe outer end wherein the threaded end of a valve actuator is received.The other end of the valve actuator is located in the passage and isadapted to releasably engage and displace the associated part's valve byrotation of a handle disposed adjacent the body outer end. A tubularextension transversely disposed to the body includes a fluid portintersecting the body passage and is attachable to an evaluation orrecharging line.

The valve actuator carries an 0-ring seal mounted adjacent the free endadapted to engage a conical valve seat when the handle is rotated to avalve disengage or closed position sealing the passage and another0-ring seal mounted on the actuator intermediate the free end andthreaded end maintains a sealing relationship adjacent the intersectionof the bore and passage.

Preferably the handle is rotated to the close condition prior toconnecting the adapter to the part to prevent the actuator from engagingthe valve during connection. The adapter is connected to the couplingpart by standard interconnecting means defined on the adapter adjacentthe coupling end. Once coupled, rotation of the handle in the openingdirection engages the valve actuator with the coupling part's valve, andas rotation continues the valve is axially displaced to the opencondition placing the coupling part in fluid communication with theadapter.

As the displacement of the self-sealing valve is independent of thecoupling action, the adapter may be easily coupled to the coupling partunder high pressure conditions whereby the threading action of the valveactuator multiplies the effective forces used to displace the valve.Also, as the valve actuator controls the axial position of theself-sealing valve fluid flow in the coupling adapted can be controlledmanually by selective rotation of the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will beappreciated from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational, diametrical, sectional view of a couplingservicing adapter constructed in accord with the invention showing thevalve actuator in the closed or valve disengaged position, and

FIG. 2 is an elevational, diametrical, sectional view of the couplingadapter of FIG. 1 as coupled to a self-sealing valved coupling partshowing the valve actuator in the open or valve engaged positiondisplacing the self-sealing valve to the open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The coupling adapter in accord with the invention will be appreciatedfrom the drawing figures. The coupling adapter 10 is adapted for usewith self-sealing valved coupling parts utilizing axially movable valveswhereby the adapter 10 employs a manually operable valve actuator forcontrolling the axial position of the associated part's valve.

In FIG. 2 a typical example of a self-sealing valved coupling part withwhich the adapter of the invention may be employed is shown at 12 and isdescribed in the assignee's application U.S. Ser. No. 07/269,729 filedNov. 10, 1988. The part 12 has a tubular body 14 which includes anattachment end 16 for connecting to a hose line, such as may exist in anautomotive heat pump or air conditioner unit, and an extension end 18for connecting to another coupling part or the adapter of the invention.An axial passage 20 extends through the body wherein a self-sealingvalve assembly is located comprising a spring biased cylindrical valve22 axially movable in the passage 20 between open and closed positions.The valve 22 carries a sealing ring 24 adjacent a maximum diameter step26 which engages a valve seat 28 when the valve is in the closedposition, and the step 26 concentrically aligns with a maximum diameterrecess 30 when the valve is in the fully open position as shown in FIG.2. The valve 22 is normally forced to the closed position by the actionof a spring 32 sealing the passage 20.

The adapter 10 of the invention includes a tubular body 34 having anouter end 36 and a coupling end 38 adapted to connect to the couplingpart 12. An axial passage 40 extends from the coupling end 38 andintersects an axially aligned threaded bore 42 formed in the outer end36 intermediate the body ends 36 and 38. A tubular extension 44transversely disposed to the body 34 includes a fluid port 46intersecting the passage 40 and an annular shoulder 48 for attaching toa test line or to an evacuation or charging line, not shown.

The threaded bore 42 receives a threaded valve actuator 50 having a freeend 52 located in the passage 40 adapted to releasably engage anddisplace the valve 22. The free end 52 is axially displacement in thepassage 40 between a valve engaging or open position, FIG. 2, and aclosed or valve disengage position FIG. 1 by rotation of a handle 54disposed adjacent the outer end 36. The handle 54 is mounted to thetreaded end of the actuator by a screw 56.

An annular shoulder 58 is defined on the actuator 50 adjacent the freeend 52 and carries an annular sealing ring 60 adjacent a maximumdiameter step 62. The seal 60 establishes a sealing relationship with aconical valve seat 64 adjacent recess 66 when the handle is rotated tothe closed position of FIG. 1, whereby rotation of the handle is limitedby engagement of the step 62 with the seat 64. Another sealing ring 68axially spaced from the shoulder 58 maintains a sealing relationshipadjacent the intersection of the passage 40 and the bore 42 whether thevalve actuator is in the closed or open position.

A latch sleeve 70 is slidably mounted on the coupling end displaceablebetween release and lock positions for coupling the adapter 10 to thepart 12. The sleeve 70 supports radially displaceable detent balls 72and has a counterbore 74 that frees the balls 72 when the sleeve is inthe release position. A spring 76 interposed between the body 34 andsleeve 70 normally biases the sleeve to the lock position as shown inFIG. 2 whereby an annular ring 78 limits movement thereof and containsthe balls in the counter bore when the sleeve is in the releaseposition. A sealing 0 ring 80 disposed on the interior diameter of thebody 34 establishes a sealing relationship with the outer surface of thepart 12.

Prior to connecting the adapter 10 to the part 12 the handle is rotatedto the closed condition of FIG. 1 to prevent the actuator from engagingthe valve 22 during coupling.

To connect the adapter 10 to the coupling part 12 it is merely necessaryto insert the extension end 18 into the coupling end 38. By holding theadapter 10 in one hand and pulling the sleeve 70 in an axial directionaway from the end 38 the balls 72 may be displaced radially. Sliding thecoupling end 38 continues over the coupling part's extension end 18until movement is limited and release the sleeve 70 occurs, whereuponthe stressed spring 76 retracts closing the sleeve and causing thedetent balls 72 to engage in a recess defined on the coupling part'sbody coupling the adapter 10 and par 12 together.

Once coupled, the valve actuator may be used to manually control theaxial displacement of the valve 22 and thereby the fluid flow throughthe coupling part and adapter by rotation of the handle. Rotation of thehandle toward the open position of FIG. 2 draws the free end intoengagement with the valve 22, and as rotation continues the axialdisplacement of the valve and actuator disengages the seals 24 and 60with the seats 28 and 64, respectively, placing the passages 20 and 40in fluid communication. Maximum fluid flow in the coupling part may beachieved by rotating the handle to the fully open position asillustrated in FIG. 2 whereby the steps 62 and 26 align with maximumdiameter recess 66 and 30, respectively.

To disconnect the adapter from the coupling part the handle 54 may beeither in the open or closed position and the sleeve 70 is moved in anaxial direction away from the part 12 and at the same time pulling theadapter in the same direction will disengage the balls 72 uncoupling thebody parts.

The fact that the valve 22 is not displaced until the handle is threadedtoward the valve permits the adapter to be easily connected to the parteven when the part is under high pressure, whereby the threading actionof the valve actuator multiplies the effective forces used to displacethe valve.

It should be noted that although the adapter disclosed is illustratedwith a coupling part employing a poppet type valve, the inventiveconcepts of the invention are not limited to just poppet type valvecouplings, but may be incorporated to be used with coupling partsemploying sleeve or other types of axially moveable valves as well.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive conceptsmay be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A coupling adapter for use with a self-sealing valvecoupling part having an axially movable valve normally forced to theclosed position by a spring member characterized by its ability toselectively control the axial position of the coupling part's valve whenunder high pressure, comprising, in combination, a tubular body having acoupling end and an outer end, quick-connect coupling means defined onsaid body adjacent said coupling end for selectively coupling said bodyand the coupling part in coaxial communication, said coupling meanscomprising an axially displacement sleeve defined on said bodyoperatively associated with a plurality of radially displaceable detentsdefined on said body, an axial passage defined in said body extendingfrom said coupling end intersecting an axially aligned threaded boreformed in said outer end intermediate said ends, said passage includingan enlarged cylindrical portion adjacent said coupling end and aconcentric reduced diameter cylindrical portion adjacent said enlargedportion, a manually operable valve actuator having a threaded endreceived in said threaded bore and a head axially displacement betweensaid enlarged and reduced diameter portions adapted to releasably engageand axially displace the coupling part's valve, said head including acylindrical portion receivable within said passage reduced diameterportion, and annular seal mounted on said head cylindrical portionsealing engaging said passage reduced diameter portion when said headcylindrical portion is received therein, a torque applying handlemounted on said valve actuator for rotating said actuator and manuallycontrolling the axial position of the coupling part valve, first sealingmeans mounted on said actuator intermediate said head and said threadedend establishing a sealing relationship adjacent the intersection ofsaid threaded bore and said passage, and a tubular extension mounted onsaid body transversely disposed to said body passage having a fluid portintersecting said body passage. .Iadd.
 2. A quick disconnect couplingfor an access valve, comprising:a housing, having a first end, a secondend, a central passage having an axis running from said first end ofsaid housing to said second end of said housing, a conduit openingcommunicating with said central passage, an inlet located in said secondend of said housing, and ball bearing cavities spaced about acircumference of said inlet; a depressor, having a first end and asecond end, being mounted for longitudinal movement in said centralpassage of said housing so that said first end and said second end ofsaid depressor are respectively in coaxial juxtaposition to said firstend and said second end of said housing, said depressor being movablebetween an open position permitting communication through said centralpassage and a closed position where communication through said centralpassage is blocked; a conduit for supplying a fluid in communicationwith said central passage of said housing; and quick disconnect meansfor coupling and uncoupling the quick disconnect coupling to the accessvalve; and means for moving said depressor between said open and saidclosed position, independent of said quick disconnect means. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 3. A quick disconnect coupling according to claim 2, wherein saidquick disconnect means comprises:a sliding sleeve, slidably fixed aboutan outer surface of said second end of said housing, having an innersurface, and a closing surface and a release zone located on said innersurface of said sliding sleeve, said sliding sleeve being slidablebetween locked and unlocked positions, said closing surface of saidsliding sleeve overlying said ball bearing cavities when said slidingsleeve is in said locked position, and said release zone overlying saidball bearing cavities when said sliding sleeve is in said unlockedposition; and ball bearings, retaining in said ball bearing cavities, sothat when said sliding sleeve is in said locked position, said closingsurface of said sliding sleeve contacts said ball bearings, forcing saidball bearings to extend into said central passage at said second end ofsaid housing to lock the coupling to the access valve, and when saidsliding sleeve is in said unlocked position, said ball bearings are freeto release the coupling from the access valve. .Iaddend.